Subject and object pronouns review
Key Notes:
1. Definition of Subject and Object Pronouns
- Subject Pronouns: Used as the subject of a sentence (the one doing the action).
Examples: I, you, he, she, it, we, they - Example: He plays soccer every weekend.
- Object Pronouns: Used as the object of a verb or preposition (the one receiving the action).
Examples: me, you, him, her, it, us, them - Example: The coach praised him for his effort.
2. Subject Pronouns: Functions and Examples
- Subject Pronouns as the Doer of the Action:
Subject pronouns take the position of the person or thing performing the action.
Example: She baked a cake. - Subject Pronouns in Questions:
Used to ask who is performing the action.
Example: Who is coming to the party?
3. Object Pronouns: Functions and Examples
- Object Pronouns as the Receiver of the Action:
Object pronouns are used to receive the action of a verb or follow prepositions.
Example: Please give the book to me. - Object Pronouns After Prepositions:
Object pronouns follow prepositions like “to,” “for,” “with.”
Example: The gift is for them.
4. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them
- Mixing Subject and Object Pronouns:
Always use subject pronouns for the subject of the sentence and object pronouns for the object.
Incorrect: Him went to the store.
Correct: He went to the store. - Pronoun Agreement:
Ensure the pronoun agrees in number and gender with the noun it replaces.
Incorrect: The boys are playing soccer. She is winning.
Correct: The boys are playing soccer. They are winning.
5. Subject and Object Pronouns in Compound Structures
- Using Subject Pronouns in Compound Subjects:
When a subject consists of two or more people/things, use the subject pronoun.
Incorrect: Me and her went to the mall.
Correct: She and I went to the mall. - Using Object Pronouns in Compound Objects:
When there are two or more objects, use object pronouns.
Incorrect: The teacher gave the books to he and I.
Correct: The teacher gave the books to him and me.
6. Pronouns and Clarity
- Avoid Ambiguity:
Always ensure the pronoun clearly refers to its noun.
Unclear: When John and Mike came, he was tired.
Clear: When John and Mike came, John was tired.
7. Formal vs. Informal Usage of Pronouns
- Formal Usage: In formal writing, object pronouns like whom should be used correctly.
Example: Whom did you call? - Informal Usage: In everyday speech, it’s common to use who instead of whom, though it may not be grammatically correct.
Example: Who did you call?
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